Startup Pony.ai agrees to automated driving software program recall

WASHINGTON — Startup know-how agency Pony.ai agreed to problem a recall for some variations of its autonomous driving system software program after an October crash in California, U.S. regulators mentioned on Tuesday.

The recall covers three autos which were repaired, the corporate informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company mentioned on Tuesday this was the “first recall of an automatic driving system” and that the particular software program at problem had been in use by three autos.

On Oct. 28, a Pony.ai car that had been working in autonomous mode hit a road signal on a median in Fremont, Calif., after turning proper, prompting California in December to droop the corporate’s driverless testing allow. Nobody was injured within the incident.

Pony.ai mentioned the crash occurred lower than 2.5 seconds after the ADS shutdown.

Pony.ai, which is backed by Toyota Motor Corp., mentioned that in very uncommon circumstances, a planning system diagnostic test “might generate a ‘false optimistic’ indication of a geolocation mismatch.”

The corporate mentioned in an emailed assertion it has absolutely cooperated with NHTSA’s casual inquiry in regards to the incident and had instantly suspended its testing program to conduct a radical assessment.

NHTSA informed Pony.ai it believed the software program had a security defect and requested the corporate to conduct a recall, Pony.ai mentioned in a submitting.

The corporate mentioned it has up to date the software program code and the three affected autos have been repaired.

“Whether or not the car is operated by a human driver or an automatic driving system, the necessity to defend roadway customers stays the identical,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Steven Cliff mentioned in an announcement. “As this primary recall of an automatic driving system underscores, NHTSA will make sure that car producers and builders prioritize security whereas they usher within the newest applied sciences.”

Earlier this week, Pony.ai introduced it had accomplished a brand new spherical of financing that offers it a valuation of $8.5 billion.

California mentioned final 12 months Pony.ai had 10 Hyundai Motor Co. Kona EVs registered below its driverless testing allow. The suspension doesn’t impression Pony.ai’s allow for testing with a security driver.